Rotary engine

ABSTRACT

A rotary engine of the alternating piston type comprising a main rotor and subrotor. The main rotor and subrotor are connected by a system of eccentrically mounted linkage means and gear means for converting the relative alternating motion of the main rotor and subrotor into a clockwise rotating force of the main rotor.

0 United States Patent 1 1 3,552,363

[72] Inventor Eisuke Funak'oshi. [56] References Cited No. 217 Chojaboru, Kasuya-cho, Kasuya- UNITED STATES PATENTS Fukmka'kenman 1,487,829 3/1924 Arrighi 123/11 [211 App]. No. 763,610

. 1,659,172 2/1928 Staats-Oels 123/11 [22] F11ed Sept. 30, 1968 2,270,976 l/l942 Sobek 103/129 [45] "named 1971 2 816 527 12 1957 P 1 123/11 [32] 1967 3 396 632 8/1968 L l 230/144 x Japan e anc [31] No. 42/71810 Primary Examiner-Allan D. Herrmann AttorneyWenderoth, Lind & Ppnack 54 ROTARY ENGINE 3 Clams Drawmg Flgs ABSTRACT: A rotary engine of the alternating piston type [52] U.S.Cl 123/847, comprising a main rotor and subrotor. The main rotor and 418/33 subrotor are connected by a system of eccentrically mounted [51] Int. Cl F02b 53/00 linkage means and gear means for converting the relative al- [50] Field ofSearch 123/11; ternating motion of the main rotor and subrotor into a clockwise rotating force of the main rotor.

PATENIEIUJAN 5m 3.552.363

SHEET 1 OF 5 Fig.1

EISUKE FUNAKOSI,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY PATENTEU JAN 5 IHYI SHUT 2 BF 5 EISUKE FUNAKOSHI,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY PATENIEDJM m: I V 35 521363 snmanFs Fig.4.

EISUKE FUNAKOSHI INVENTOR ATTORNEYS PATENTED JAN- 5 |97| I 31552363 sum u or '5 Fig.5

EISUKE 'FUNAKOSHI INVENTOR ATTORNEY v 1 ROTARY ENGINE The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine and particularly to a rotary type internal combustion engine.

The conventional internal combustion engines are substantially used in such type that-a piston is moved in a reciprocating motion in a cylinder, but such type permitting the piston to reciprocate has such disadvantagethat it vibrates excessively. From above reason various rotary type internal combustion engines have been devised.

In the usual rotary engines, however, the shapes of the rotor and the cylinder containing the same are complicated and difficult to be made up, or their construction or structure is excessively complicated in most cases. A perfect engine has not yet been devised. t

. The first object of the present invention is to take out a rotary force from explosive force at its ma imum.

The second object of this invention is to provide a rotary engine constructed with the parts of simple shapes easy to be worked in comparison with the well-known rotary engines.

The third object of this invention is to provide a rotary engine, the structure of which is simpler and its assembly and adjustment are also easier than those of the well-known rotary engine.

These objects are carried out by combinations and actions of individual parts according to the present invention, and their embodiments will become apparent with the accompanying drawings and by detailed explanation described below.

Modifications and changes in relation to the details of the structure will be contained in the claims described below.

FIG. 1 is a front view cutting longitudinally the main body of the rotary engine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinally sectional side view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 are longitudinal section side views showing each process.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section front view showing another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section side view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 are longitudinal section side views showing each process.

The rotary engine according to this invention consists of a cylindrical main body 13 having both sidewalls 11 12, a main rotor 14, a subrotor 15, a suction .valve' 16 and the like. The main rotor 14 is fixed to a main shaft 17 passing through the center of the main body 13 andis made up to be a circle cut off in its part to decrease weight. To the main rotor 14 is formed a concave portion 19, which reaches from the outer peripheral surface thereof to the surface of the main shaft 17. A front surface 20 and a rear surface 21 of the concave portion 19 are a plane passing through the center of the main shaft 17 and extending along the radial directions, respective ly, and both sidewalls 22 are also a plane perpendicular to the v centerline of the main shaft 17, respectively. The subrotor l5 is fitted into the concave portion 19, and the inside of the subrotor is of an arced face 23 coinciding with the outer periphery of the main shaft 17 exposed in the concave portion 19 and the outer peripheral surface 24 of the subrotor 15 is an arced face coinciding with the inner peripheral surface of the main body 13. The both sidewalls 25 of the subrotor 15 are formed to be plane, thereby they are close together with the both sidewalls 22 of the concave portion, and the front surface 26 and the rear surface 27 are made up to be a plane passing through the center of the main shaft 17 and on the front surface 26 are formed concave portions 28, 29.

On the rear surface of the subrotor 15 is mounted a bearing 30, in which the front end of a joint 31 is connected to be rotatable by means of a shaft 32. In the concave portion 19, also a shaft 33 is mounted to be located at the rear position of the subrotor l5 and to be rotatable, and the rear end of said joint 31 is fitted around a shaft 34, formed eccentrically at its center, to be rotatable. Both ends of the shaft 33 are fitted into both side holes 35 of the main rotor 14 to be rotatable, and one end of the shaft 33 hardly protrudes beyond the side face of the main rotor 14, while another end protrudes beyond the surface of the main rotor 14. To the end portion of said projecting shaft 33 is mounted fixedly a gear 36, which is meshed with a gear 37 fitted idly around the main shaft 17.

Between the inner face of the sidewall 11 in the main body 13 and the main rotor 14 is formed a space 18, in which the gears 36 37 and the like are contained. At the outside of the main rotor 14 provided with the gear 37 and so, a gear 38 engaged with the gear 37 is mounted to be rotatable with a shaft 39 which is fixed to rotor 14. In the inner face of the sidewall 11 is fixed an internal gear 40 concentric to the shaft 17, and with the internal gear 40 is meshed said gear 38. Thus, when the main rotor 14 revolves, the gear 38 revolves on its axis in engaging with the internal gear 40 and at the same time revolves round the main shaft together with the main rotor 14 to rotate the gears 37 36 and then the shafts 33 34, thereby the subrotor 15 oscillates against the main rotor 14 through the joint 31.

At the outside of a suction port 43 mounted to the upper part of the main body 13 is positioned a valve casing 41, in which a rotatable suction valve 16 is arranged in parallel to the main shaft 17. Said suction valve 16 is of a cylinder, in one part of which a notch 42 is formed. Into the valve casing 41 is inserted a suction pipe 43, and when the notch 42 of the suction valve 16 stretches over both the inner end of the suction pipe 43, opened into the valve casing 41, and the suction port 43, the suction pipe 43' and the suction port 43 communicate together. One end of a shaft 45' of the suction valve 16 protrudes beyond the valve casing 41, and to said shaft 45' end is fixed a gear 46, which is meshed with a gear 47 fixed to the main shaft 17, thereby the suction valve 16 is connectively driven to revolve it one revolution every one revolution of the main rotor 15.

Each gear ratio of said gears 36, 37, 38 and the internal gear 40 is determined in such rate that the subrotor 15 oscillates two times against the main rotor 14 during one revolution of the main rotor 14.

To the main body 13 are mounted an exhausting port 44 and an ignition plug 45 besides said suction port 43 and then are installed usually necessary parts in the internal combustion engine, such as a generator 48 revolved with the main shaft, a carburetor, a free wheel and the like, and the main shaft 17 is served as a driving shaft (output). Thus, by utilizing volume change of the space between the main rotor 14 and the subrotor 15 are carried out such actions as suction, compression, combustion and exhaustion. Such actions are illustrated as follows:

FIG. 4 I shows a situation close to an end of the suction process. At the position of the end of the suction process in FIG. 4 IV, the space volume between the main rotor 14 and the subrotor 15 is at its minimum, and during revolution of the main rotor 14 from said position to that in I, revolution of the subrotor 15 is delayed to increase the space a gradually, so that pressure in the space a turns negative (low). During this time the space a communicates with a groove 46 formed at the inner face of the main body 13, said groove 46 communicates with the suction port 43 and the notch 42 of the suction valve 16 communicates with both the suction pipe 43' and the suction port 43, so that mixture gas of air with fuel mixed through the carburetor communicating with the suction pipe 43' is sucked into the space a.

Process between I and II is a compressive one. Since when the main rotor 14 located at I is revolved somewhat, the space a is closed with the inner fa 3c of the main body 13 and at the same time the revolution of the subrotor 15 is increased and then the space a is decreased, the mixture gas contained in the space a is compressed therein.

At the end of the compressive process in II, the space a is at its minimum. In this moment, high voltage is applied to the ignition plug 45 located at such position to produce an electric spark, so that'thecompressive gas inithe space a -is ,i'gni tedyan'd rapidly bumt(explod ed).

The pressure owing to expansion of the combustion gas con sists of both a force P, giving a clockwise revolution tothe main rotor-14 and aforceP giving an anticlockwise one to the subrotor 15 as shown in ll. The force P, gives'the shaft 33 counterclockwise rotation by rotating the subrotor l alonga counterclockwise direction, and the gear 36 integrated with the shaft 33 is revolved along the same direction, the gear37,

which is meshed with said gear, beingrevolved clockwise at the outside of the mainshaft l7 a'ndthe, gear 38, meshed with said gear, is revolved counterclockwise. Since the -gear.'38-is mounted-pivotall'y-to -the.main rotor. and is engaged with the internal gear 40 fixed-to the main body "lithe-gear '38is revolved counterclockwise and at the sametime rou'n'd the main shaft clockwise along the internal gear He'nceQthe main rotor 14 is forced to revolve clockwise after all.

Consequently, the forces HP, to'be added to the main rotor 14 and the subrotor along the ;opposi-te' directions convert into a clockwise rotating force of the main rotor 1'4.

The combustion (explosion) process mentioned above is between processes ll and [Min FIG. 4, and in processlll the space a is again at its'maximum, and'then between processes lll and IV the space acontracts. During such time, along exhaustingport 44 along the periphery, formed to the main body 13, communicates with the space a ,.so that the burnt gas in the space a is discharged fromthe exhaustingport-44 to its outside as the volume of the space a iscontracted, and the space 0 reaches at its minimum as-shown in process-lV, and then the next suction process is carried outagain.

in another embodiment of FIG. 5 to 7, a cylindrical main body 53 having both sidewalls 51 52 .is separated with [a separating wall 56 in its inside to one part of which are mounted the main rotor 54 and the subrotor555. The main rotor 54 is composed of two, and formed asone 'body atiboth sides of a boss "58 fixed to the main shaftf'57 passing through the center of the main body 53.

The subrotor 55 is of the same shape as that of the main rotor 54 and two in number and is fixed into space between disclike side plates 59'60.

Said rotor 55 is contained into the main body 54, and as a matter of-convenience in assembly, the side'plate 60 is set with screws to the rotor 55 to be removablelnto central holes-of the side plates 59 60 are idly fittedthe mainshaft 57, and an arced surface 61 at the inside of the rotor 55 slides round the outer periphery of the boss 58 of the rotor54.{Consequently, the rotor 55 can-be revolved against the'rotor 54in serving the main shaft 57 as a center.

The side plates 59 60 of the rotor 55 are in slide contact with the inner face of the sidewall51 of the main body 53 and the inner face ofthe separating wall 56, and the both sides of the rotor 54 are also in slide contact with the inner face of the side plates 59 60. The outer peripheral face of e ach'rotor 54 55 is in slidecontact with the inner periphera l'face of the main body53, the front and the rear surfaces ofeach rotor-54255 being composed of planes passing through the center of the main shaft 57 and extending along the radial directions, and all spaces a,, 0,, a a, formed between the front and the rear surfaces of each rotor 54 55 are utilized :to produce power. On

front surface of each rotor 54 55, the concave portion 61' is formed to leave a minimum space even when the front and the rear rotors 54 55 come in close contact.

The boss 62 formed atthe outside of the central portion of the side plate 60 otthe rotor 55 is idly inserted into the central g'hole .63 of the separating wall 56 and protrudes beyond the separating wall 56. To the outer end of said boss 62 is'fixed a .'crank64.

To the main shaft 57 between the separating wall 56 and the side plate 52 is fixed the center of an arm 65, .and in space -between said arm 65 and the sidewall 52 azgear'66 is mounted to berotatableto the main shaft :57. Then, said gear 66 is arranged in the neighborhood of the arm 65 and to be unmova- .,.'bl e-talon g the axial direction in relation to the main shaft-57.

' the arm 65. To the-part adjacentto the sidewall 52 of the inner periphery of'ithe main body 53 isvnio unte d fixedly an internal gear "74, which isfmeshed with said .gear' 73 at the'part'near to lithe sidewall'fjz.

" 1' odesir'edgpartsof th e'main'bodyi5 3 are, mounted asuction port 75, anigexhausting port vKantian ignition plug, and

further ares-installed usually necessaryJparts in the'internal combustion engine,'s,uch'as a generator driven with the main shaft, a carburetor, a free wheel andithe like.

in this embodiment,.'four spacesa a, a, a, made up between each rotor 5455perfo'rrn such actions as. asuction, a compression, combustion and :exhaustion by utilizing their volume, I change, respectively. o v 7 ln FlGf7 l,'the volume of the space a,-is at its minimum, and it is at starting position of the suction process. When the rotor 54is revolved clockwise byan an'gleof 60 from said position,

the rotor '55'is alsorev'olved clockwise by 30 and the space a, is expanded ,asshown in'lL-Further, when the rotor 54 rotates clockwise by 6 0, the rotor'55 rotates clockwise by 30', so that the space a,is;o pened--at itsmaximumas in' lll. Since in the.

main body'=53within range from the upperend to an angle of 60 rightwards is formed the suction port 75, into the space a beingexpandedas mentioned above is sucked mixture, gas of air with fuel from the carburetor.

Then,-while therotor 54 isrevolveil by another 60 rotary velocity of the rotor is increase'd and it overtakes the rotor :54, and the space 0, gets intoits minimum as in lV. Thus,

when the'mixing gas is compressed, high voltage is supplied to. a plug 77 mounted tothe main body ,53 to produce an electric spark, and the gas uis' burnt rapidly (exploded). The combustion gas expands rapidly and spreads out the space a so that to the rotors -54, 55 are applied forces toward opposite directions. The force'tobe applied to the'rotor 54. permits the.

rotor54 to revolveclockwise,'while the force to the rotor 5 permits the rotor 55 to revolvecounterclockwise. The coun-v terclockwiseforce to-the rotor 55 permit'sthe gear 68 te revolve counterclockwise through the crank64, the joint 72 and the crank 69. Such revolution is transmitted to the, gear 73 "through the gear and permits the,gear 73'to revolve coun-.,

terclockwise.

Since the gear 73 having revolved counterclockwise -revolves clockwise-along the internal gear 74 and permits the arm "65 integrated with the main shaft157 to revolve clockwise,

'thepressure of the mixing .gas giving the rotor 55 counterclockwise revolutionse'rves to revolve "the main shaft ff clockwise after all.

Byexpansion of the combustion gas the space a, is spreaded and at thesame time revolved clockwise as mentioned above,

.so that whenthe rotorw'54 is revolved clockwise by 'an angle of P as in V, the rotor 55 is revolved clockwise by-30" and when 'therotor54 is again revolved clockwise. by another 60'', the?? rotor- 55 is-also revolved clockwise by 30 and the space a,.gets I into its ,maximum in volume as' in VI. Whilethe rotor 54 rotates clockwise'fro'mthis position by another 60, revolution of therotor isincre'ased and volume'pf the space a, is'contractedto'reachiatritsminimum state in Meanwhile, since the' space a, passes the exhausting hole 76, the gasafter combustion isdischarged.

1 in other sp'aced,fthe sameactron'sarebar'ried out respectively, and everyone revolution of- ;the. rotors [5.4 55 occur four combustions..*lhe:aboveembodiment 'hassuch advantage that,"

thespacesbetween ,individualgrotors are'eritirely utilized.

Then, in'each said-embodiment suitable devices fonprevent- :1:

ingggas from l et'ik ag'e are mounted to mutualslidi'rjtg f i "between the mjainf body, the main rotor and :the' I the present invention, however, each sliding face consistsof face contact, so that there is little risk of gas leakage.

Since in the present invention the rotor rotates round the main shaft and the pressure of the combustion gas exerted to the rotors is completely utilized as a revolving force of the main shaft, explosive force of fuel is converted into a revolving force of the main shaft at its maximum limit.

The present invention has such advantages that the rotor is composed of a simple shape having no part difficult to work and the main body is of a cylinder easy to work, and that the whole structure is also simple and their assembly and adjustment are exceedingly easily carried out.

Moreover, in the embodiment it showed that the case in which by utilizing the ignition plug was ignited fuel, but it can be used as a diesel engine provided with nozzles jetting fuel when the mixing gas is compressed without ignition plug to reach at high temperatures. Besides, numbers of the main body or the rotor may be varied according to its object.

lclaim:

l. A rotary engine comprising a cylindrical main body having sidewalls; a main shaft rotatably mounted in said sidewalls through the center of said body; a main rotor means adapted to rotatewith said shaft; subrotor means revolvably mounted with respect to said shaft and positioned adjacent said main rotor means such that at least one chamber is formed between said main rotor means and said subrotor means; suction means for introducing fuel into said chamber; means for igniting said fuel and for causing said rotor means to rotate in one direction around said shaft and for urging said subrotor means to rotate in the reverse direction around said shaft; andmeans responsive to the ignition of said fuel and operably connecting said rotor means with said subrotor means for overcoming said urging of said subrotor means in said reverse direction whereby said subrotor means rotates in said one direction; said responsive means comprising a first gear mounted on a shaft rotatable with said rotor means, eccentrically mounted linkage means mounted to rotate with said subrotor means for causing said first gear to rotate in said reverse direction, a second gear mounted to rotate around said main shaft 'and meshing with said first gear to rotate in said one direction, a third gear mounted on said rotor and meshing with said second gear to rotate around its axis in said reverse direction, and an internal gear mounted on one of said sidewalls and meshing with said third gear.

2. A rotary engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said subrotor means comprises a single rotor and said at least one chamber comprises a single chamber.

3. A rotary engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said subrotor means comprises more than one subrotor and said at least one chamber comprises more than one chamber. 

1. A rotary engine comprising a cylindrical main body having sidewalls; a main shaft rotatably mounted in said sidewalls through the center of said body; a main rotor means adapted to rotate with said shaft; subrotor means revolvably mounted with respect to said shaft and positioned adjacent said main rotor means such that at least one chamber is formed between said main rotor means and said subrotor means; suction means for introducing fuel into said chamber; means for igniting said fuel and for causing said rotor means to rotate in one direction around said shaft and for urging said subrotor means to rotate in the reverse direction around said shaft; and means responsive to the ignition of said fuel and operably connecting said rotor means with said subrotor means for overcoming said urging of said subrotor means in said reversE direction whereby said subrotor means rotates in said one direction; said responsive means comprising a first gear mounted on a shaft rotatable with said rotor means, eccentrically mounted linkage means mounted to rotate with said subrotor means for causing said first gear to rotate in said reverse direction, a second gear mounted to rotate around said main shaft and meshing with said first gear to rotate in said one direction, a third gear mounted on said rotor and meshing with said second gear to rotate around its axis in said reverse direction, and an internal gear mounted on one of said sidewalls and meshing with said third gear.
 2. A rotary engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said subrotor means comprises a single rotor and said at least one chamber comprises a single chamber.
 3. A rotary engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said subrotor means comprises more than one subrotor and said at least one chamber comprises more than one chamber. 